PORTLAND - The journey began in Indonesia's warm waters and when it ended at the U.S. Pacific Northwest coast a giant leatherback sea turtle had clocked 12,744 miles.Scientists, who tracked the endangered species reptile by satellite as he ventured across the Pacific Ocean, said it was longest recorded migration of any sea vertebrate, ANI reported.
The journey began in the summer of 2003 and the 12,744 miles were covered in 647 days -- all that trouble ... [full story]

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore., announced Thursday she will not seek re-election this year to a seventh term in Congress.The 68-year-old Oregon Democrat had health problems late last year. She told The (Portland) Oregonian that her health was not a reason for her decision.
She said part of the reason she was leaving office was the constant fundraising and the need to fly almost every weekend between Oregon and Washington."At some point in ... [full story]

The passenger in a sport utility vehicle driven by his wife was killed Wednesday morning when she lost control on a patch of ice west of Junction City, drove into a ditch and rolled the vehicle several times, police reported.
Clifford Guse of Noti died in this rollover crash on Territorial Road west of Junction City on Wednesday - OSP photo58-year old Clifford Dale Guse of Noti, Oregon was pronounced dead at the scene about 7:45 ... [full story]

Flags to be lowered Thursday, February 7, 2008, in honor of Private First Class Joshua A.R. Young
Army PFC Joshua A.R. YoungSALEM – Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has ordered all flags at public institutions to be flown at half-staff on Thursday, February 7, 2008, in memory of Army Private First Class Joshua A.R. Young, of Riddle, OR. Young, 21, was killed in action on Monday, January 28, when his High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle was struck by an ... [full story]

Milwaukie Police have released few details related to a 32-year old Milwaukie, Oregon, man found lying on the side of the road Wednesday evening, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officers responded to the scene on SE River Road, just south of SE McLoughlin Boulevard about 7:45 p.m., February 5, and found the deceased man. Police have withheld the victim’s identity pending notification of family members.
“He died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound,” a news release ... [full story]

Clackamas County Jail officials are performing a review of policies and procedures, a practice they say is standard, following the death of a 51-year old man found alone in his jail cell Sunday evening. Earlier called “non-criminal in nature,” the death has been ruled a suicide by the Oregon State Medical Examiner.
The death of Brian Truman Hebener has been ruled a suicide - CCJ photo Corrections deputies found Brian Truman Hebener in a ligature about 7:30 ... [full story]

The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall of about 8,910 pounds of bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin products due to a labeling error.The FSIS said the recalled products were packaged with the wrong label that did not identify a marinade containing soy and milk, known allergens.The 20-ounce boxes of Chef's Requested Foods-brand each contains four bacon-wrapped beef steak medallions. Each box bears a pack date of "0198A" or "0208A" printed on the side of ... [full story]

The Oregon National Guard today will help people in Idanha and Detroit climb out from several feet of snow after a series of heavy snowfalls buried the communities in recent weeks.
The Oregon communities of Idanha & Detroit will get help from the Oregon National Guard to dig out from several feet of snow received in recent weeks. The photo above is of a local residence whose garage is inaccessible due to snow accumulation, and below ... [full story]

In comparison with 2007, Oregon State Police troopers reported a decrease in the number of drunk-driving arrests made during Super Bowl weekend this year. 23 drivers were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, 13 which were arrested after noon on Sunday. Last year, 42 DUII arrests were made.
Troopers also reported an increase in deaths from car crashes with five persons killed in four separate crashes this weekend. Last year, OSP and ODOT ... [full story]

ARLINGTON, Ore. - Arlington, Ore., Mayor Carmen Kontur-Gronquist assured media that a risque photo of her is not the reason some constituents are seeking her removal from office.
The mayor claims that those seeking her removal are just using a photo of her in a brassiere with no blouse on so they can have their way on things like finances, water woes and weeds on golf course fairways go their own way, The (Portland) Oregonian reported ... [full story]

PORTLAND, Ore. - Same-sex couples in Oregon celebrated Monday morning on the first day they could legally apply for domestic partnerships.In Portland, people were lining up outside the Multnomah County Building as early as 4 a.m., The (Portland) Oregonian reported.The lines were the result of a decision Friday by a federal judge who tossed out a challenge to Oregon's new civil-unions law. That suit sought to block the domestic partnership law passed by the Legislature ... [full story]

EUGENE, Ore. - An aquatic conservation group is applauding a U.S. government decision to list Oregon coastal coho salmon as a threatened species.The National Marine Fisheries Service's move to extend federal protections to the coho salmon under the Endangered Species Act comes on the heels of a recent court ruling that found the agency's 2006 decision to deny a listing to coho was not based on the best available science, the Pacific Rivers Council said ... [full story]